# Where your council tax goes in Bristol url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/bristol/where-it-goes/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Where your council tax goes in Bristol Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Bristol** is **£2,713.68** for 2026-27, split between Bristol £2,266.04, Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase £44.01, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £308.20, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £95.43. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Bristol: **£834.56** of the bill. Council tax pays for 21% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,713.68Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £2,266.04Goes to Bristol itself (84%) As of 6 April 2026 - £834.56Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 20.7%Of the council's money that comes from council tax, 2025-26 As of 28 September 2026 Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Who gets your bill Your council tax band A B C D E F G H Figures are for a **Band D** home. Bands A to H pay a fixed fraction of this, set in law. 2266.04 44.01 308.20 95.43 Bristol 84%Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4% ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 20.7%** of the money Bristol had to spend in 2025-26. ******** - Council tax 20.7% £299.3m - Business rates 12.8% £184.3m - Government grants for specific services 39.9% £576.4m - Fees, charges and other income 26.6% £384.5m It also put £16.9m into its reserves that year. Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,713.68 - [Bristol](#d-council) £2,266.04 ** Your council · 83.5% of the bill - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £44.01 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £308.20 ** Police · 11.4% of the bill - [Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £95.43 ** Fire and rescue · 3.5% of the bill - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bristol ### Bristol £2,266.04 of your bill goes to Bristol. It is shared out below in proportion to how Bristol spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £834.56 ** 36.8% of this part · £245.7m in 2025-26 · £496 per resident; similar councils £479 · down 2.8% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £556.16 ** 24.5% of this part · £163.7m in 2025-26 · £331 per resident; similar councils £262 · up 6.8% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £376.66 ** 16.6% of this part · £352.1m in 2025-26 · £711 per resident; similar councils £698 · up 23.8% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £188.71 ** 8.3% of this part · £55.6m in 2025-26 · £112 per resident; similar councils £116 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £113.65 ** 5.0% of this part · £33.5m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £33 · down 0.7% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £75.63 ** 3.3% of this part · £22.3m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £45 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £60.40 ** 2.7% of this part · £17.8m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 21.6% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £39.87 ** 1.8% of this part · £11.7m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £29 · down 28.6% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £20.40 ** 0.9% of this part · £44.6m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 Roads and transport brought in £12.2m more than it cost in 2025-26, so it takes no share of your bill. Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£241.2m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£38.6m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Wiltshire, Durham, West Northamptonshire, Cheshire East, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Dorset, North Yorkshire. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £834.56 of your bill goes to adult social care at Bristol. Here is how its £245.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £278.70 ** 33.4% of this · £84.2m in 2025-26 · £170 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 1.7% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £222.60 ** 26.7% of this · £67.3m in 2025-26 · £136 per resident; similar councils £164 · up 2.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £158.72 ** 19.0% of this · £48.0m in 2025-26 · £97 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £66.25 ** 7.9% of this · £20.0m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £37 · down 20.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £51.23 ** 6.1% of this · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 5.3% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £40.12 ** 4.8% of this · £12.1m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £5.71 · down 24.1% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £9.26 ** 1.1% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £5.65 per resident; similar councils £1.59 · down 5.4% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £7.61 ** 0.9% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £4.65 per resident; similar councils £2.22 · down 23.2% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.06 ** under 0.1% of this · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.04 per resident; similar councils £2.01 · down 93.9% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to adult social care came to £22.0m across 7,180 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Patience Company Ltd: £2.2m (837 payments) - Bosun Care Limited: £1.9m (731 payments) - New Chapters Support & Wellbeing Ltd: £1.9m (785 payments) - Maples: £1.8m (979 payments) - Sports Heroes Ltd: £1.5m (241 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=adult-social-care#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £278.70 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bristol. Here is how its £84.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £247.81 ** 88.9% of this · £74.9m in 2025-26 · £151 per resident; similar councils £137 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £30.88 ** 11.1% of this · £9.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £17 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £222.60 of your bill goes to physical support at Bristol. Here is how its £67.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £130.19 ** 58.5% of this · £39.4m in 2025-26 · £79 per resident; similar councils £123 · up 2.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £92.41 ** 41.5% of this · £27.9m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £158.72 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bristol. Here is how its £48.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £121.96 ** 76.8% of this · £36.9m in 2025-26 · £74 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 10.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £36.75 ** 23.2% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 12.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £51.23 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bristol. Here is how its £15.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £37.71 ** 73.6% of this · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £26 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £13.52 ** 26.4% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £8.25 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 26.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £9.26 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bristol. Here is how its £2.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £5.50 ** 59.4% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £3.36 per resident; similar councils £1.07 · down 9.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £3.76 ** 40.6% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £2.30 per resident; similar councils £0.57 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £556.16 of your bill goes to children's social care at Bristol. Here is how its £163.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £330.25 ** 59.4% of this · £97.4m in 2025-26 · £197 per resident; similar councils £155 · up 7.8% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £111.03 ** 20.0% of this · £32.8m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £53 · up 1.6% on 2024-25 - Family support £80.45 ** 14.5% of this · £23.7m in 2025-26 · £48 per resident; similar councils £32 · up 41.0% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £21.81 ** 3.9% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £0.38 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £7.73 ** 1.4% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £4.61 per resident; similar councils £2.24 · down 32.7% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £3.31 ** 0.6% of this · £976k in 2025-26 · £1.97 per resident; similar councils £5.41 · up 16.7% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £1.58 ** 0.3% of this · £467k in 2025-26 · £0.94 per resident; similar councils £0.25 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to children's social care came to £64.5m across 6,904 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Venturers' Academy E-Act: £4.7m (12 payments) - Cabot Learning Federation T/A Snowdon Village: £2.1m (12 payments) - Oasis Support Ltd: £1.9m (1349 payments) - The National Fostering Agency Ltd: £1.5m (395 payments) - The Adolescent & Children'S Trust: £1.3m (12 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=childrens-social-care#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Education ### Education £376.66 of your bill goes to education at Bristol. Here is how its £352.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £125.16 ** 33.2% of this · £117.0m in 2025-26 · £236 per resident; similar councils £203 · up 11.0% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £83.87 ** 22.3% of this · £78.4m in 2025-26 · £158 per resident; similar councils £143 · up 34.3% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £56.06 ** 14.9% of this · £52.4m in 2025-26 · £106 per resident; similar councils £85 · up 8.2% on 2024-25 - Other education £47.72 ** 12.7% of this · £44.6m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £99 · up 102.4% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £42.66 ** 11.3% of this · £39.9m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £158 · up 17.5% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £21.20 ** 5.6% of this · £19.8m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 22.3% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to education came to £27.8m across 2,416 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Invesis UK Limited T/A Bristol Schools Limited: £11.5m (282 payments) - Bristol Pfi Ltd (Unitary Charges Only): £4.7m (15 payments) - EW Beard Limited: £3.1m (18 payments) - Bath And North East Somerset Council - Pensions: £1.5m (16 payments) - Constellia Public Limited: £623k (46 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=education#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £188.71 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Bristol. Here is how its £55.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Recycling and waste minimisation £44.48 ** 23.6% of this · £13.1m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £41.26 ** 21.9% of this · £12.2m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 7.8% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Bristol Waste company Limited £3.5m; Apollo Cleaning Solutions £23k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=environment.waste-collection#search) - Waste disposal £36.10 ** 19.1% of this · £10.7m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 1.3% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Acorns Nurseries Limited £1k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=environment.waste-disposal#search) - Street cleaning £32.17 ** 17.0% of this · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £7.99 · up 5.5% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): 3Gs Uk Ltd £0k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=environment.street-cleaning#search) - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £11.55 ** 6.1% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £6.89 per resident; similar councils £7.10 · up 18.7% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £8.39 ** 4.4% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £5.01 per resident; similar councils £6.83 · up 377.6% on 2024-25 - Trade waste £8.08 ** 4.3% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £4.82 per resident; similar councils £-0.62 · up 12.6% on 2024-25 - Other environmental services £3.50 ** 1.9% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £2.09 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 2.3% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £2.63 ** 1.4% of this · £777k in 2025-26 · £1.57 per resident; similar councils £2.11 · up 14.9% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £0.41 ** 0.2% of this · £120k in 2025-26 · £0.24 per resident; similar councils £2.90 · down 2.4% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £0.14 ** under 0.1% of this · £40k in 2025-26 · £0.08 per resident; similar councils £0.24 · down 73.9% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to environment and regulation came to £11.0m across 501 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - South Gloucestershire Council (Main Order Account): £4.7m (10 payments) - Bristol Waste company Limited: £3.5m (1 payment) - Arcadis LLP: £590k (19 payments) - Cotswold Estates & Gardens Ltd: £310k (14 payments) - Constellia Public Limited: £229k (74 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=environment#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £113.65 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Bristol. Here is how its £33.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £35.92 ** 31.6% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 25.0% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £31.41 ** 27.6% of this · £9.2m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £4.71 · up 104.8% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £31.30 ** 27.5% of this · £9.2m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £5.82 · down 15.2% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £13.31 ** 11.7% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £7.91 per resident; similar councils £4.91 · up 186.7% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £1.10 ** 1.0% of this · £323k in 2025-26 · £0.65 per resident; similar councils £0.48 · down 87.5% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £0.62 ** 0.5% of this · £182k in 2025-26 · £0.37 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · down 31.8% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to housing (not council homes) came to £95.7m across 3,423 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Stepnell Ltd: £23.1m (95 payments) - Hill Partnerships Limited: £8.9m (12 payments) - One Lockleaze Llp: £5.1m (14 payments) - Alex Fry Rental Properties Ltd: £3.1m (240 payments) - Ocean Property Lawyers Ltd: £2.5m (8 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=housing#search) **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Bristol's Housing Revenue Account took in £156.8m and spent £158.0m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £75.63 of your bill goes to running the council at Bristol. Here is how its £22.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Local welfare assistance £24.77 ** 32.7% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £20.97 ** 27.7% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £13.29 ** 17.6% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £8.19 per resident; similar councils £8.69 · up 65.1% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £7.99 ** 10.6% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £4.93 per resident; similar councils £9.00 · up 26.9% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.98 ** 5.3% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.46 per resident; similar councils £2.89 · down 33.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.11 ** 4.1% of this · £950k in 2025-26 · £1.92 per resident; similar councils £2.66 · down 7.3% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.52 ** 2.0% of this · £463k in 2025-26 · £0.93 per resident; similar councils £1.00 · up 38.6% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to running the council came to £10.8m across 1,737 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Names withheld by the council: £1.4m (641 payments) - Specialist Computer Centres PLC: £1.4m (4 payments) - Grant Thornton UK LLP: £999k (8 payments) - CLC Contractors Limited: £772k (61 payments) - G2V Recruitment Group Limited t/a Vivid Resourcing: £409k (121 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=central#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £60.40 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Bristol. Here is how its £17.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £21.34 ** 35.3% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £10 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Somerset Council £269k; Constellia Public Limited £84k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=culture-leisure.libraries#search) - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £21.05 ** 34.9% of this · £6.6m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 16.2% on 2024-25 Paid most (our matching of £500 records): Constellia Public Limited £673k; Kompan Ltd £645k. [Search](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=culture-leisure.parks#search) - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £17.70 ** 29.3% of this · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £4.60 · down 22.9% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.31 ** 0.5% of this · £98k in 2025-26 · £0.20 per resident; similar councils £0.02 · up 15.3% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to parks, leisure, libraries and culture came to £14.0m across 1,140 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Bristol Active Ltd: £3.5m (17 payments) - SLM Ltd: £2.8m (7 payments) - Constellia Public Limited: £823k (32 payments) - Invesis UK Limited T/A Bristol Schools Limited: £734k (15 payments) - Kompan Ltd: £645k (10 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=culture-leisure#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £39.87 of your bill goes to planning and development at Bristol. Here is how its £11.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £24.79 ** 62.2% of this · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 100.7% on 2024-25 - Community development £11.83 ** 29.7% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £7.57 per resident; similar councils £2.07 · down 30.3% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £2.99 ** 7.5% of this · £947k in 2025-26 · £1.91 per resident; similar councils £0.36 · down 85.1% on 2024-25 - Building control £0.26 ** 0.6% of this · £82k in 2025-26 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £0.90 · down 43.1% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to planning and development came to £1.3m across 188 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Constellia Public Limited: £371k (61 payments) - Bath And North East Somerset Council - Pensions: £136k (1 payment) - Southmead Development Trust Ltd: £113k (1 payment) - Bath Demolition Ltd: £93k (4 payments) - Suttle Projects Limited: £89k (5 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=planning-development#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £20.40 of your bill goes to public health at Bristol. Here is how its £44.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £7.41 ** 36.3% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £9.68 · down 2.6% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £5.11 ** 25.0% of this · £11.2m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £2.54 ** 12.4% of this · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £7.13 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - Other public health £2.29 ** 11.2% of this · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £5.38 · down 6.7% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.92 ** 4.5% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £4.07 per resident; similar councils £2.02 · up 17.4% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.91 ** 4.5% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £4.02 per resident; similar councils £3.76 · up 3.4% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.63 ** 3.1% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.76 per resident; similar councils £2.57 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.53 ** 2.6% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £2.32 per resident; similar councils £1.88 · down 7.8% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.07 ** 0.3% of this · £156k in 2025-26 · £0.31 per resident; similar councils £2.24 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 #### Named suppliers In Bristol's own records of payments over £500 for 2025-09 to 2026-08, payments our keyword matching links to public health came to £32.7m across 213 payments. Those records leave out salaries, so they are not the whole cost. - Turning Point (Services) Limited: £10.9m (33 payments) - Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB: £10.8m (3 payments) - University Hospitals Bristol and NHS Foundation Trust: £5.6m (15 payments) - SH24 Digital Ltd: £1.6m (29 payments) - Addiction Recovery Agency Ltd: £1.3m (23 payments) [Search these payments](/councils/spending-over-500/bristol/?service=public-health#search) - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase £44.01 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Bristol's adult social care spending of £245.7m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £14.70 ** 33.4% of this precept · £84.2m in 2025-26 · £170 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 1.7% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £11.74 ** 26.7% of this precept · £67.3m in 2025-26 · £136 per resident; similar councils £164 · up 2.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £8.37 ** 19.0% of this precept · £48.0m in 2025-26 · £97 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.49 ** 7.9% of this precept · £20.0m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £37 · down 20.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £2.70 ** 6.1% of this precept · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 5.3% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £2.12 ** 4.8% of this precept · £12.1m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £5.71 · down 24.1% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.49 ** 1.1% of this precept · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £5.65 per resident; similar councils £1.59 · down 5.4% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.40 ** 0.9% of this precept · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £4.65 per resident; similar councils £2.22 · down 23.2% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.00 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.04 per resident; similar councils £2.01 · down 93.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £14.70 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bristol. Here is how its £84.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £13.07 ** 88.9% of this · £74.9m in 2025-26 · £151 per resident; similar councils £137 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.63 ** 11.1% of this · £9.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £17 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £11.74 of your bill goes to physical support at Bristol. Here is how its £67.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £6.87 ** 58.5% of this · £39.4m in 2025-26 · £79 per resident; similar councils £123 · up 2.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.87 ** 41.5% of this · £27.9m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £8.37 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bristol. Here is how its £48.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £6.43 ** 76.8% of this · £36.9m in 2025-26 · £74 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 10.5% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.94 ** 23.2% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 12.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £2.70 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bristol. Here is how its £15.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £1.99 ** 73.6% of this · £11.4m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £26 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.71 ** 26.4% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £8.25 per resident; similar councils £2.94 · up 26.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.49 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bristol. Here is how its £2.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.29 ** 59.4% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £3.36 per resident; similar councils £1.07 · down 9.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.20 ** 40.6% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £2.30 per resident; similar councils £0.57 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £308.20 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £466.8m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £95.43 of your bill goes to Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £92.67 ** 97.1% of this part · £63.7m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 7.2% on 2024-25 - Running the council £2.76 ** 2.9% of this part · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £1.54 per resident; similar councils £0.73 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Leicestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Cheshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Derbyshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £92.67 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £63.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £82.17 ** 88.7% of this · £56.4m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £10.32 ** 11.1% of this · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £5.75 per resident; similar councils £6.23 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.18 ** 0.2% of this · £123k in 2025-26 · £0.10 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Bristol spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £6.6m | £13 | £18 | — | down 16.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£13Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road—Changedown 16.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £9.5m | £19 | £7.99 | £13,441 (similar: £1,738) | up 5.5% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£19Similar councils, per resident£7.99Per mile of road£13,441 (similar: £1,738)Changeup 5.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £5.2m | £11 | £26 | £7,416 (similar: £5,042) | up 31.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£11Similar councils, per resident£26Per mile of road£7,416 (similar: £5,042)Changeup 31.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £1.1m | £2.16 | £22 | £1,515 (similar: £3,344) | up 8.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.16Similar councils, per resident£22Per mile of road£1,515 (similar: £3,344)Changeup 8.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £4.2m | £8.42 | £6.75 | £5,901 (similar: £1,206) | up 38.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£8.42Similar councils, per resident£6.75Per mile of road£5,901 (similar: £1,206)Changeup 38.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £475k | £0.96 | £4.11 | £672 (similar: £904) | down 18.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.96Similar councils, per resident£4.11Per mile of road£672 (similar: £904)Changedown 18.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £1.9m | £3.84 | £7.31 | £2,690 (similar: £1,371) | down 47.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.84Similar councils, per resident£7.31Per mile of road£2,690 (similar: £1,371)Changedown 47.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £711 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £496 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £331 | £300 | | Median£300 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £112 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Public healthDetails | £90 | £64 | | Median£64 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £68 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £45 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £36 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £24 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £-24.63 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | - Bristol spent **32.6%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.1%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. - Its published payments of £500 or more came to **£771.3m** between 2025-09 and 2026-08. These include capital and council housing spending, so they are not a share of the figures above. - Payments we classify as consultancy and agency staff came to **19.5%** of its staff costs (median among the 6 other unitary councils in England whose £500 data is read: 5.2%). The two come from different sources and periods, so this is a guide to scale, not an exact share. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Bristol](/council-tax/england/bristol/) and [everything else about Bristol](/your-area/bristol/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Bristol? A Band D bill of £2,713.68 is split between Bristol, Bristol: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £834.56.Is council tax ring-fenced for particular services? No. Council tax is pooled with grants, business rates and fees. The adult social care precept is the exception: councils raise it for adult social care. ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 28 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Next in this section: Parking income in Bristol UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/bristol-ua/) - [Back to Bristol: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/bristol/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.